Advocate Hospice will provide hospice care in the patient’s residence of choice. This can be their own home--a place most people want to be when they are ill--, a hospital, or an extended care facility.

At any time during a life-limiting illness, it is appropriate to discuss all of the patient's care options, including hospice. Understandably, most people are uncomfortable with the idea of stopping efforts to "beat" their disease. Hospice staff members are highly sensitive to these concerns and are always available to discuss them with the patient, family, and physician.

Hospice care does not automatically end after six months. Medicare and most other insurers will continue to pay for hospice care as long as a physician certifies that the patient continues to have a limited life expectancy and meets the eligibility criteria.

If improvement in the condition occurs and the disease seems to be in remission, the patient can be discharged from hospice and return to aggressive therapy or go on about his or her daily life. If a discharged patient should later need to return to hospice care, Medicare and most private insurance will allow additional coverage for this purpose.

Hospice recognizes that people nearing the end of their lives often face enormous emotional and spiritual distress. They are dismayed as their physical abilities begin to fail. They don't want to be a burden on their families. They worry how their loved ones will manage without them. Sometimes, they feel deep regret about things they have done or said - or things left undone. Hospice professionals and volunteers are trained to be active listeners and to help patients and families work through some of these concerns so that they can find peace and emotional comfort in their final days.

There is no set number. One of the first things a hospice team will do is prepare an individualized care plan that will address the amount of care giving a patient needs. Hospice staff members visit regularly and are always accessible to answer questions and provide support with a nurse on-call 24/7.

In the early weeks of care, it is usually not necessary for someone to be with the patient all the time. Later, however, since one of the common fears of patients is the fear of dying alone, hospice generally recommends someone be there continually.

While family and friends must be relied on to give most of the care, Advocate Hospice does provide volunteers to assist with errands and to provide a break and time away for major caregivers.

Hospices do nothing to either speed up or slow down the dying process. Just as doctor's and midwives lend support and expertise during the time of a child's birth, so hospice provides its presence and specialized knowledge during the dying process.

Advocate Hospice uses both non-medical and the latest medications available for pain and symptom relief.

Hospice believes that emotional and spiritual pain is just as real and in need of attention as physical pain. Clergy and social workers are available to assist patients as well as family members.

Usually not. It is the goal of Advocate Hospice to help patients be as comfortable and alert as they desire.

When morphine and other pain control medications are administered properly for medical reasons, patients find much-needed relief without becoming addicted. The result is that hospice patients often remain more alert and active because they are not exhausted by uncontrolled symptoms.

Hospice follows the family in our bereavement program for up to 13 months after the patient dies.